PhD position- Translational neuroimmunology of Parkinson’s disease

The Gut-Immune-Brain Axis Lab (Prof. Seppe De Schepper, VIB–UAntwerp) and the Parkinson’s disease Research Team (Prof. David Crosiers Translational Neurosciences Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, UAntwerp; and Department of Neurology, UZA) are hiring a full‑time PhD to map how peripheral and circulating immune cells reflect early Parkinson’s disease (PD) biology. The project focuses on high‑risk individuals and PD patients and aims to identify circulating immune signatures that anticipate disease onset and progression.

• Profile circulating immune cells in PD and prodromal cohorts and link them to clinical readouts and α‑synuclein reactivity.
• Use cutting‑edge single‑cell and immune‑profiling approaches, linked to clinical phenotyping, to discover early biomarkers and patient‑stratification tools.
• Work side‑by‑side with neurologists on patient inclusion and sample workflows, with access to VIB core facilities and data‑science support.

Our lab studies how peripheral immunity shapes brain health and neurodegeneration, with a strong track record in myeloid biology, immune trafficking, and α‑synuclein pathology. The clinical team at UZA brings deep expertise in movement disorders and longitudinal cohort management. Together we offer a highly collaborative, translational environment embedded in VIB and the University of Antwerp.

• Drive a clinical‑translational PhD: cohort coordination (with clinical team), sample processing, immune profiling, and data interpretation.
• Publish in peer‑reviewed journals and present at conferences.
• Contribute to limited teaching/service tasks and to open, reproducible science practices.
• During the doctoral scholarship, you will be asked to submit and defend an innovative project at the FWO  to obtain a personal fellowship. Please do check eligibility criteria prior to applying for this position.

• Medical degree or MSc in biomedical sciences, medicine, bioengineering, or related field, with excellent study results.
• Strong interest in immunology and neurodegeneration.
• Experience with human samples and/or immunophenotyping tools (e.g. flow cytometry) is advantageous; candidates without prior experience should be motivated to learn.
• Comfortable working at the clinic‑lab interface; excellent writing and communication in English (Dutch is an asset for patient‑facing coordination).
• Motivated to work within an international project in Europe, including possible travelling.
• Proactive, rigorous, solution‑oriented and a critical thinker.
• Attention to quality, integrity, creativity and cooperation.
• Teaching competences that are in line with the University of Antwerp’s educational vision/VIB.
• Research qualities that are in line with the faculty and university research policies/VIB.

• A doctoral scholarship for a period of 1 year to start with. Following a positive evaluation, the scholarship will be renewed.
• The applicant will be expected to actively seek independent funding and will be fully assisted in applying for personal fellowships, such as FWO.
• Access to state‑of‑the‑art facilities and training in advanced techniques.
• Opportunities for career development, networking, and mentorship.
• Support for presenting at international conferences and publishing in peer‑reviewed journals.
• A competitive stipend and benefits package in line with VIB guidelines.
• Start date:
  
  as soon as possible.

Submit your application through the VIB online application tool and be sure to include:

• A cover letter detailing your research interests, experience and motivation to join the team.
• A curriculum vitae, including a list of publications.
• Contact information for two references.

For more information about our research center

For more information about the teams